Device for supporting plastic casts



Aug. 3, 1937. s ECKELS 2,088,694

DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING PLASTIC CASTS Filed Aug. 29, 1934 Patented Aug. 3,1937 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE Howard S. Eckels, Philadelphia, Pa. IApplication August 29, 1934, Serial No. 741,993

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for holding and supporting plasticcasts.

In taking casts for the reproduction of portions of the human anatomy,as, for example, the face, head, etc., it is oftendesirable to form theimpression or take the negative cast in a material which is plasticrather than rigid, since this is more agreeable to the person sittingfor the purpose. The removal and support of such plastic 0 casts aftertheir completion without injury to the cast or destruction of detailconstitutes, however, a very difficult problem not met with in thehandling of rigid casts.

It is accordingly the purpose of this invention to provide holding andsupporting means for such plastic casts adapted to permit their removalwithout the slightest injury or destruction of detail and to supportthem during the operation of preparing a rigid positive cast from theplastic negative cast. Specifically this purpose is effected by theprovision of an adjustable, rigid frame substantially the size of thecast equipped with a plurality of rigid fingers capable of beingpositioned so that their extremities conform to the contour of the cast,and by which the cast is supported and held.

The invention may best be described by reference to a specificembodiment thereof, adapted to support and hold plastic casts of theface or head, shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is aplan view of a device in accordance with this invention, and

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the same device showing themethod of connecting the parts.

A plurality of rods l are adjustably connected by corner posts 3 to forma rigid framework. Any motion of the rods I relative to each other afterthe framework has been adjusted to the desired size is prevented by thesetscrews 5. A plurality of fingers l are mounted on the rods I, whichpass through the collars E3 of the fingers, and may be adjusted at anyposition along the rods and at any angle to the plane of the frameworkand retained in such position by the setscrews [5. Each finger 7comprises two telescoping members I! and l 9 respectively, which may belocked in position by the setscrew 2|, 50 and a rotatably mounted ringmember 23 at its extremity. When in use it is desired to position theextremity of a finger closer to a rod l than the telescopement of thefinger will permit, fingers of the type indicated at 9 are used. The 55fingers 9 comprise a single rod carrying a ring member 23 at oneextremity, and are connected to a rod l of the frame by the connectorsll. Setscrews 25 and 26, respectively, permit the fingers 9 to beadjustedand fastened in any desired position. 5'

In operation when, for example, a plastic cast of the face is to betaken, the rods l are adjusted so as to form a rectangular frameworksomewhat larger than the size of the cast to be made, and are thenrigidly connected by tightening the set- 0 screws 5. The plasticmaterial is then applied to the face in quantity to give the desiredthickness of cast. The fingers 1 and 9 of the cast holder are thenadjusted by the operator so that, the framework of rods 1 being at thed'el5 sired distance from the face, the extremities of the fingers justtouch the surface of the mask with the rotatable ring members 23 layingparallel to the surface of the mask at each point of contact. Thefingers are then rigidly clamped in these positions by operation of thesetscrews l5, 2|, 25, and 26, and the ring members 23 are covered withmore of the plastic material forming the cast thus imbedding them in themask itself.

The plastic cast is now rigidly supported at a plurality of points andaccordingly may be easily removed from the face without danger ofinjuring the impression obtained. Further handling of the plastic maskis also simplified since the supporting framework affords a means ofeasily handling it. Thus, while the plastic negative mask is stillsupported as described, a rigid positive mask in hard wax or the likemay be cast from it.

It will be understood that the details hereinabove set forth areillustrative only and in no way limit the invention as broadlydescribed.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is l. A device forsupporting plastic casts and the like comprising in combination a rigidframe, a plurality of rigid fingers adjustably attached thereto, each ofsaid fingers being adjustable in length, and means mounted on the outerend of 45 each finger capable of partial rotation at right angles to theaxis of the finger and adapted to be firmly retained upon the imbedmentin a plastic cast, whereby the said fingers may support a plastic castso as to prevent any substantial deformation thereof.

2. A device for supporting plastic casts and the like comprising incombination a plurality of rods, means for releasably connecting saidrods to form a rigid frame, a plurality of fingers attached to said rodsand capable of movement axially along said rods and of rotation aboutsaid rods, means for retaining each of said fingers in fixed positionwith reference to said rods, means for varying the length of each ofsaid fingers, and means mounted on the outer end of each finger capableof partial rotation at right angles to the axis of the finger andadapted to be firmly retained upon imbedment in a plastic cast, wherebythe said fingers may support a plastic cast so as to prevent anysubstantial deformation thereof.

3. A device for supporting plastic casts and the like, comprising incombination a plurality of rod-like members adjustably connectedtogether to form a rigid frame adjustable in size, a plurality offingers attached to said rod-like members and capable of movement alongsaid members and of rotation about said members, means for retainingeach of said fingers in fixed position with reference to said frame,means for varying the length of each of said fingers, and meanspositioned at the outer end of each .finger adapted to retain and impederemoval of a plastic cast from said fingers when the outer endsthereofare imbedded in such plastic cast, whereby the said fingers maysupport a plastic cast so as to prevent any substantialdeformation'thereof.

4. A device forsupporting plastic casts. and the like, comprising incombination a plurality of rodlike members adjustably connected togetherto form a rigid frame adjustable in size, a plurality of fingersattached to said rod-like members and capable of movement along saidmembers and of rotation about said members, means for retainmg each ofsaid fingers in fixed position with reference to said frame, means forvarying the length of each of said fingers, and means mounted on theouter end of each finger capable of partial rotation at right angles tothe axis of the finger and adapted to be firmly retained upon imbedmentin a plastic 1cast, whereby the said fingers may support a plastic castso as to prevent any substantial deformation thereof.

5. A device for supportingplastic casts and the like, comprising incombination a rigid frame, a plurality of rigid fingers adjustablyattached thereto, each of said fingers being adjustable in length, and aplurality of elements each positioned at the outer end of each saidfinger, said elements being adapted to retain and impede removal of aplastic cast from said fingers when the outer ends thereof are imbeddedin such plastic cast, whereby the said fingers may support a plastic:cast so as to prevent any substantial deformation thereof.

6. A device for supporting plastic casts and the like, comprising incombination a rigid frame, a plurality of fingers attached thereto, eachof said fingers being capable of adjustment with respect to said framein such manner that the outer ends thereof may be positioned so as torest on an irregular, curved surface, and a plurality of elements eachpositioned at the outer end of each said finger, said elements beingadapted to retain and impede removal of a plastic cast from said fingerswhen the outer ends thereof are imbedded in such plastic cast, wherebythe said fingers may support a plastic cast so as to prevent anysubstantial deformation thereof.

HOWARD S. ECKELS.

